The head of the Agency, I.B. Alit Wiradana, said on Monday, January 7, 2013: “We are warning and bringing into line (with the regulations) the owners of the laundries who are drying clothes on sidewalks, parks and public areas along the entire length of Jalan Nangka Utara until Antasura.”

According to the State News Agency Antara, the current drive is motivated by complaints received from the public claiming the clothes drying activities of local laundries disrupt their daily lives.

Most complaints are coming from pedestrians who are forced to walk on the roadways because sidewalks are filled with racks of drying clothing.

“We are not forbidding people to operate their businesses, but, at the same time, we need to protect Denpasar’s aesthetic. Because of this, the laundries must dry their customers’ clothes in more acceptable locations.

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa has been re-certified for 2012-2013 for Green Globe Certification. The certification underlined the resort’s commitment to conduct business in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, bordered by the Petanu River valley to the east and the verdant rice fields of Peliatan on the west, is one of the largest properties among 5 star hotels in Ubud. The ten-hectare tract of land is a tranquil haven of tropical gardens with 108-architect-designed thatched private pool villas and luxury guestrooms.

According to Maya Ubud Resort & Spa General Manager, Paul Blake, “Our management team and all our employees are firmly committed to our sustainable management program, to ensure the longevity of our business and together, preserve and enhance the beautiful of our surroundings”.

Green Globe Certification CEO, Guido Bauer commented: “The resort has set a new precedent as the first hotel in Bali to achieved the highest ranking ever in the Green Globe program."

Maya Ubud’s Environmental Officer, Romy Anggara added, “To be awarded Green Globe certification, the resort implemented a wide range of green practices in its daily operation, such as reusing linens, waste reduction and recycling, increasing energy efficiency, environmental education and community outreach. Over the course of two years, sufficient data has been compiled to demonstrate our consistent and ongoing commitment to green initiatives, from the recycling of paper, waste water for irrigation, and even to establishing a spice and herb garden for use by the culinary department. Sustainable efforts were overseen by the Maya Ubud Green Team, who educate all departments on environmental practices.”

As Bali embarks on 2013, the island’s predominantly Hindu population will celebrate a number of important holidays on their sacred calendar.

On January 10-11, 2013 the Balinese paused to reflect on their sins during Hari Siwarati. On the Balinese calendar, Hari Siwarati falls once every 420 days, on the 14th day of the waxing moon of the 7th month of the Bali Hindu Calendar - panglong ping 14 sasih kepitu.

Siwarati celebrations are centered at Bali’s most sacred mother-temple of Pura Besakih, located on the slopes of Mt. Agung, some 80 kilometres north of the Island’s capital of Denpasar.

Many Balinese give full meaning to the day meant to inspire meditation and reflection on personal sins and shortcomings by refraining for eating, drinking, speaking and even sleeping on Hari Siwarati. Ritual prayers were held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013, five hours later at midnight and again on Friday morning at 05:00 am.

Lesser ceremonies are held at community temples in the traditional villages (desa adat) across Bali.

In close succession, on Saturday, January 12, 2013, the Balinese paid homage to learning and education by marking Hari Saraswati.

Four days later, on Wednesday, January 16, 2013, Hari Pagerwesi – is a day intended to instil and strengthen an individual’s spirituality.

Bali’s governor, Made Mangku Pastika caused considerable comment among the public and the press when, on Saturday, January 5, 2013, did a "sleep over" at the house of a poor woman in North Bali.

Governor Bali, Made Mangku Pastika and Madame Pastika came to call on the simple home of a 75-year-old Karangasem woman and ended up staying the night.

According to Beritabali.com, the 75-year-old Balinese woman, Ni Made Wartini, of Duda Timur Village in Karangasem, had her home recently repaired under a provincial homeowner’s assistance program created by Governor Pastika.

The Pastika’s visit to the woman’s home, according to the provincial spokesman, was to see first-hand the results of the home-repair program and gather input from villagers on the effectiveness of government programs at the grass root level.

The governor’s spokesman, Ketut Teneng, denied that the unprecedented overnight stay at a local citizen’s home had any connection with the race this May for Bali’s governor. Teneng said that Pastika and his wife’s stay was “purely to gather the public’s aspirations and make sure the program of home improvement was running smoothly.” Moreover, said Teneng, the governor wanted direct input from the public on provincial programs without hearing rehearsed statements and replies.

Teneng said that the Pastika’s have plans to make future overnight stays at homes of local citizens in Bali.

During 2012, the provincial government of Bali has repaired and upgraded 6,000 homes owned by poor Balinese. 20,000 more homes are on the waiting list for future repairs.

Party Invitations

It’s Official: Made Mangku Pastika to Run for Second Term as Bali’s Governor, But Not as PDIP Candidate

Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika has confirmed that he will run for a second term as the Island’s Chief Executive on May 15, 2013.

Beritabali.com reports that the governor’s decision was announced after a meeting between Pastika and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who also serves as the chairman of the chairman of the Democratic Party.

In a statement to the press on Tuesday, January 8, 2013, Pastika announced his candidacy for governor under the flag of the Democratic Party, saying his name would form part of a coalition ticket with the deputy-governor’s post coming from a member of the Golkar Party.

Pastika’s candidacy as a member of the Democratic Party marks his formal split from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) headed by former President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Thus far, the Golkar Party has put forward two names for the post of Deputy-Governor: the current deputy-regent of Badung regency Ketut Sudikerta and the Regent of Karangasem Wayan Gredeg.

Poverty in Paradise

Bali’s Number of Poor on the Increase

The Bali Post, reporting information from the Bali Statistics Bureau (BPS-Bali), confirms that poverty is on the rise in Bali.

The number of “officially poor” in Bali in 2012 (based on a March survey) counted 168,800 impoverished citizens, an increase from the 166,200 estimated in 2011.

The regency of Bali with the greatest number of poor is in the Island’s North at Buleleng. The chairman of Commission B of the Buleleng House of Representatives (DPRD-Buleleng), Putu Mangku Budiasa, blames this impoverished nature of his region on a poor road system and the inclination of investors to create projects in the southern part of the Bali.

In the regency of Karangasem the situation is much the same. The chairman of the Karangasem House of Representatives (DPRD-Karangasem), I Gede Dana, freely admits that his region is home to a disproportionate number of poor people, many of them working as farmers and fishermen.

Gede Dana also believes that Karangasem is home to many “invisible poor” – people not reflected in the data maintained by I Wayan Geredeg who serves as Regent. Geredeg’s figure counts only 16,000 poor families in Karangasem. Fueling Dana’s doubts on the accuracy of that data is the fact that in 2005 - 42,747 family household were reported as poor – a total that represented 40% of all families living in the region. Subsequent surveys, however, saw that total drop to 33,000 households and to 16,000 in the most recent count.

Meanwhile, Bali’s capital of Denpasar counts 2,106 impoverished households, a number down from the 2,586 recorded in 2011.

A Baker’s Dozen Plus One

14 Months Prison for German Chef Caught with Drugs in Bali

The Denpasar District Court sentenced a German chef working in Bali caught with 0.1 gram of methamphetamine to 14 months of prison on in late November.

Sven Hauke Landthaler (31) was found guilty of violating the 2009 anti-narcotics law.

The sentence handed down was less than the 18 months demanded by prosecutors.

Landthaler was arrested after being informed upon by a Jakarta woman, Hairani, and neighbors who told police of the man’s drug use leading to his arrest in July 2012 in Canggu, Bali.

When arrested by police, Landthaler police discovered the methamphetamines and a pipette in the man’s pocket.

Malaysian Man Arrested at Bali Airport with 372 grams of Heroin in his Underwear

Sargunan M. Suppiah (37), a Malaysian national, has been arrested by Customs officials at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport carrying 372 grams of heroin concealed in his underwear.

The drugs have a calculated street value of Rp. 855 million (US$87,200).

As reported by Kompas.com and Seputarbali.com, the head of the Airport’s Custom’s office, Made Widjaya, said his officials had been tipped off to Suppiah’s arrival and became increasingly suspicious when Suppiah was the last to disembark Air Asia AK1364 from Kuala Lumpur. A pattern of suspicious behavior and an inability to offer logical answers to questions led official to conduct a strip search, which yielded the drugs.

The man’s passport showed that the man has flow frequently between Kuala Lumpur and Bali over the past three months.

If charged under Section of 113 of the 2009 Anti-Narcotics law, Suppiah can be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

How the Cookie Crumbles

The Courtyard by Marriott Nusa Dua Bali Offers Cookies of Good Fortune to Guests Staying Over Chinese New Year February 10-18, 2013

The approaching Chinese “Year of the Snake” portends good luck and prosperity for guests staying at The Courtyard by Marriott Nusa Dua Bali between February 10 and 18, 2013.

Guests arriving during the Chinese New Celebrations period will each receive a chef-made fortune cookie upon arrival with prizes that include entrance passes to the nearby Museum Pasifika, dinner at the prestigious Bulgari Resort and reflexology and couples’ spa treatments. Other holiday prizes include two nights deluxe, two nights premium, three nights pool terrace, and five nights one-bedroom suite with a beach club dinner, spa treatment for two and free happy hour. There’s also a chance to win two-nights accommodation at one of Marriott’s sister properties in Malaysia - the Renaissance Kota Bharu.

At check-in guests will receive the customary welcome drink and then presented with a bowl of Chinese Fortune Cookies from which to draw a homemade cookie containing a slip with details of their prize.

According to proven and time-honored beliefs, those born in the Year of the Snake ---1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001---are known to become bored easily and need sleep and relaxation to live long, healthy lives. They are cautious about investments but can make lightning decisions, solve problems quickly, and generally are lucky with money. They are selective about making friends and do not deprive themselves of luxuries. Snakes on vacation love luxurious things, often spending their money on material desires and their holidays must pamper their every desire or they become stressed.

Guests staying at The Courtyard by Marriott Nusa Dua Bali during the New Year period will find reference material in their room detailing the entire Chinese Zodiac.

Hard Rock Hotel Bali kicked off the New Year by handing over a check for Rp. 250,000,000 (US$25,000) to Rotary Club Seminyak gathered via the 12th Chapter of the Rock ‘n Run event held in October 2012.

nded to Robin Daugherty, president of Rotary Club Seminyak, by the general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel Bali, Andrew Khoo.

In 2012, the Rock ‘n Run The 12th Chapter was held and saw more than 700 people participate in the run and the sale of 2,000 shirts.

“It is a great sign, judging by the significant increase in the number of participants, people still care for others in Bali!” said Andrew Khoo.

The Rock ‘n Run event is held to help and support children in need of cleft palate operations.

“Rotary Club Seminyak and all members can not thank everyone enough for the enthusiastic runners, all who purchased the shirts, all who have concerns with what Indonesian children need,” said Daugherty.

This year’s shirt revenue, runner participants, and donations also saw a momentous improvement from last year when Rp 150.000.000 was raised.

Andrew Khoo added: “We know the effort cannot stop here. I encourage everyone to give more, share your life, and contribute much more, take more time to be kind.”

Extreme weather conditions battering Bali’s shores over the past several weeks have not only destroyed homes via flooding and shore abrasion, but have kept local fishermen ashore.

Bisnis Bali reports that fishermen in Bali have been forced to stay on land by large waves and heavy rains. As a result, the amount of fish available for purchase at local markets has declined dramatically, with fish supplies now being shipped overland from Java to supplement the meager catches caught by the few fishermen bold enough to go to sea in Bali.

The reduced amounts of seafood still available for purchase are being sold at prices that are between Rp. 3,000-Rp. 5,000 (US$0.30 –US$-0.50) higher than normal.

Bisnis Bali predicts that this situation will persist until March or April, the traditional end of the rainy season.

Paradise, Paused by Storms

Storms Leave Many Balinese Homes Flooded and at Least One Dead

Rains and heavy winds on Wednesday and Thursday (January 9-10, 2013) swept over most of Bali. While causing damage to a number of homes and resulting in falling trees, the weather is also blamed for at least two deaths – a 52-year-old junior high school teacher in Tabanan and a 53-year-old fisherman on Nusa Penida Island.

Denpasar

In North Denpasar the high winds demolished a 60-meter length of wall on Jalan Nangka Selatan. That incident injured two men, damaged 8 motorcycles, and caused property damage to a local home. More homes were substantially damaged in Abiansemal and Sibang Gede areas of Denpasar.

15 trees fell in various locations across Denpasar, sending at least one person to hospital.

Another 25-year-old man from Lombok was badly injured when he was hit by flying plywood on Jalan Iman Bonjol.

Bangli

A private home in Penglipuran Village was damaged by a falling coconut tree.

Klungkung

In Klungkung three religious sites were destroyed by high winds. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

A 53-year-old local man fishing in the surf at Nusa Penida Island was killed when waves washed him out to sea on Wednesday, January 9, 2013.
Karangasem

NusaBali reports that 15 households that were home to 76 people were evacuated in Purwakerti Village (Banjar Amed), Karangasem on Wednesday, January 11, 2013, when high waves overran the coastal area. The waves left houses partially submerged in 70 centimeters of water.

In addition to the damage to homes, the high waves also demolished 7 traditional sailing boats (jukung) used by village fishermen.

Also in Karangasem, a large tree that fell due to the winds took three days to remove and reopen the road connecting Nyalian and Bungbungan. The delay in removing the tree occurred when local community members sought permission to ceremoniously cut the Pule tree for use in preparing Barong’s for sacred cermonial dances.

The ferry crossing at Padang Bai was closed for much of the day on Thursday, January 10, 2013 due to high seas.

Homes along the beach at Panti Ahmed were also inundated by waves and seawater.

Tabanan

In Tabanan a temple at Bogan Village was damaged by high winds. The cost of the resulting destruction was put at Rp. 200 million (US$2,000).

Buleleng

The bad weather also sent waves crashing ashore at Sansgit and Paben Villages in Buleleng, North Bali and flooded 22 households there with seawater.

Tens of houses were reported to have been hit by high waves in villages along the shoreline of Buleleng including the villages of Kubu Kelod, Bungkulan, Sawan and Kubutambahan

Jembrana

Three buildings were damaged in the village of Munduk Asem (Cupel Village) on Wednesday by high waves.

Enforced Humility

Bali’s Budget for Tourism Promotion Slashed for Third Straight Year

Bali Daily (The Jakarta Post) reports that tourist promotion budgets for 2013 have been slashed by the provincial government of Bali.

A cut of more than 50% from the Rp. 2.3 billion (US$230,000) allocated in 2012 is being reduced in 2013 to only Rp. 1.1 billion (US$110,000).

The latest cut forms part of a continuing pattern of declining funds set aside to promote tourism. In 2010, the amount spent on tourism promotion was Rp. 2.5 billion.

Claiming more pressing matters demand the province's money, including a gubernatorial election in May, those charged with promoting Bali tourism to the world must now work with a relatively miniscule promotional budget, a mere fraction of the money spent promoting tourism by competing destinations in the region.

Working with this small budget, Bali will participate in only two overseas events in 2013: ITB Berlin in March and the Festival Indonesia in Melbourne in September.

Mozaics of Beauty

Mozaic Beach Club Combine Elegance, Art and Culinary Excellence in its new Lotus Arts de Vivre Private Dining Room

An extraordinary masterpiece of theatrical décor where exquisite food and living art meet will open its doors on January 18, 2013 at The Mozaic Beach Club in Batu Belig with the opening of The Lotus Arts de Vivre Private Dining Room. Created for Mozaic's Chris Salans, the new priavte dining venue is a romantic and dramatic seting where the well-etablished Mozaic reputation for outstanding cuisine meets the eccentricly chic décor of Lotus Arts de Vivre.

The Private Dining Room accommodates up to 20 guests amidst a theatrical décor in which to savor and enjoy the tasting menus of Chef Chris Salans and Chef James Ephraim. The dining room’s setting of two large round glass tables is available for private family dinners, romantic getaways or corporate dining.

Please note: The new Private Dining Room is available only through advance booking.

The new Dining Room is part of an evolving relationship between Lotus Arts de Vivre and Chris Salans, the founder of Mozaic. Past collaborations have included dinners and VIP culinary events in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Lotus Arts de Vivre has been at the edge of elegant Asian fusion, with boutiques and shows attracting the top of Asia’s style icons. The von Bueren family, creators of the brand and its success, live together in a cluster of traditional houses in a lush compound nestled in the heart of Bangkok. Their love affair with Bali now includes its boutique at the Mozaic Beach Club.

The Mozaic Beach Club opened in 2012 on Batu Belig Beach, Seminyak.

The Mozaic Beach Club showcases a poolside chill-out tapas menu, a lunch menu on the pool deck adjacent to a fine dining restaurant located within the same premises on Batu Belig Beach.

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali have announced the appointment of Vineet Mahajan as director of sales & marketing as the resort enhances its meeting and conference facilities.

Vineet will also be part of the pre-opening team for another separately-branded resort scheduled to open in late 2013 next door to AYANA and forming part of the 77-hectare Karang Mas Estate in Jimbaran, Bali.

With more than 16 years experience in the hospitality, telecom and investment banking industries, Vineet was most recently complex director of sales & marketing for Westin Gurgaon and Westin Sohna Resorts and Spa. Prior to that, he launched The Leela Palace New Delhi and The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon from pre-opening to the first year of operations as director of sales and marketing.

“I am delighted to have Vineet on board to take AYANA to the next level,” said AYANA’s General Manager, Edward Linsley.

Vineet says his immediate priorities are the re-launch of AYANA’s technologically advanced meeting facilities with an newly extended ballroom able to cater for multinational meetings, conferences and events in a secure, high-tech environment. The extension increases the size of AYANA’s ballroom by nearly 50%. The upgrade also features a new outdoor event space and four breakout rooms, including a VIP reception room and a plenary meeting room seating 150 people.

Vineet will also be tasked to prepare for the opening of a new resort adjacent to AYANA in late 2013. Branded ‘Rimba,’ which is Indonesian for ‘forest,’ the 288-room resort will seek to serve the corporate and wedding groups that AYANA has been unable to accommodate due to heavy demand. Rimba is designed to offer additional accommodation for these groups and will offer access to AYANA.

Vineet’s career includes projects with Intercontinental Hotels, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts and the Strategic Capital Corporation. An MBA graduate from the Aberdeen Business School, he is an associate of “Scottish Network International.”

He has also worked as a marketing manager and financial analyst for The Essentia Group.

Take the Day Off!

Bali Lists 21 “Local Official” Holidays for 2013

Bali governor Made Mangku Pastika has fixed 21 “local” holidays to accommodate important dates on the Bali Hindu calendar. These holidays are in addition to the 14 official national holidays and five “shared holidays” that have been set by Jakarta for 2013.

The provincial spokesman for Bali, Ketut Teneng, told the National News Agency Antara, “these local holidays specifically for Bali are intended so Hindus can perform their religious obligations.”

He said that among the 21 “local” holidays are for the celebration of Hari Siwa Ratri – two days of meditation on past sins falling on January 10-11, and Hari Saraswati - a day in honor of knowledge and learning on January 12, 2013.

Hari Pagerwesi – a day for enhancing religious beliefs falls on January 16th.

The three-day celebration of Nyepi (The Official Day of Silence) and the Balinese New Year of Saka 1935, which includes Tawur Kesanga, Hari Suci Nyepi and Ngembak Geni – will fall March 11-13, 2013.
Hari Suci Galungan takes place on March 26-28, 2013, followed 10 days later by Hari Suci Kuningan April 5-7, 2013.

Hari Saraswati, which reoccurs once every 210 days, comes twice in 2013, falling again on August 10, 2013, and similary, followed again by Pagerwesi on August 14, 2013.

Also repeating their appearance earlier in 2013 will be Hari Raya Galungan on October 22-24, 2013 and Kuningan falling on November 1-3, 2013.

The governor’s decision on “local” holidays was issued in a letter date October 10, 2012. In that letter Pastika called on government departments and agencies to organize staffing to ensure all services, especially essential services, are maintained over all holiday periods.

Bali Foundation Seeks to Make Religious Site Accessible to Handicapped People

Bali Daily (The Jakarta Post) reports that Bunga Jepun Bali Foundation is working to make Balinese religious sites fully accessible to people with disabilities.

Kadek Karya Dewi (33), a woman who been disabled by polio since the age of seven, has been assisted in performing religious obligations by family members who have carried her up stairs to allow access to Balinese temples. Unable or embarrassed to ask for assistance as she grew older, the construction of Balinese temples has oftentimes represented an insurmountable obstacles to her full participation in the religious life of the community.

Living in a village near Bali’s most-sacred Puri Besakih, Dewi is wheelchair-bound, and like other members of her community is obliged to participate in communal works (ngayah) in support of the shared religious life of the Balinese. These tasks are extremely problematic for the handicapped.

The Bunga Jepun Foundation is one of several orgaizations in Bali seeking to assist people with handicaps. I Nyoman Dana, the Foundation’s founder, argues on behalf of making Balinese temples user-friendlier for the disabled.

Says Dana: “It does not require massive renovation of a temple to give easier access. We can provide a new entrance for them,”
Dana traces his desire to make religious temples more accessible to the handicapped to his experience in 1995 handling a group of Balinese visiting a Hindu temple in Yogyakarta. “Sometime in 1995, we received a group of disabled people from Bali. Despite their physical handicaps, they were trying, hand-in-hand, to enter the temple to pray there. It was such a touching sight," he explained.

Today he lobbies various government departments and agencies to make all public facilities accessible to people with disabilities. He also sees the lack of accessibility in much wider terms, saying, “That lack of consideration can also be extended to the ways people with disabilities can be treated when they seek employment, education or services.”

Bali currently estimates 25,329 people are living on the island with some degree of physical disability.

New Chef Sets a New Table

Mozaic Restaurant in Ubud Celebrates Appointment of its New Executive Chef via Special Menu January 27 – February 3, 2013

For one week starting on January 27, 2013, Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique in Ubud will celebrate the arrival of its new executive chef with a special menu designed to mark the occasion.

ier Mauerhofer, the new executive chef at Mozaic, will be featuring dishes created to announce his arrival in Bali - all prepared with the talented kitchen team of Mozaic.

Reflecting the philosophy of Mozaic, Chef Mauerhofer, joins the Mozaic Restaurant Gastronomique family by establishing a new tradition of excellence in the kitchen of the famed restaurant. As the man at the helm of Chef Chris Salans’ gastronomy restaurant in Ubud, Chef Mauerhofer promises to follow the footsteps of Chef Salans and Chef James Ephraim, adding his own truth to a long tradition of culinary excellence.

Chef Mauerhofer comes to Ubud fresh from Shanghai, Singapore and Beijing in a career that has extended over 20 years, working from London to Atlanta to China including prominent Michelin-rated restaurants.

In China, Chef Mauerhofer was the Chef of New Heights,Three on the Bund’s iconic restaurant known for its legendary terrace and views of the Shanghai skyline and lastly, at Bei Restaurant at Opposite House Luxury Boutique Hotel.Chef Mauerhofer has also worked at the Equinox Complex, Swissôtel the Stamford.

Roni Siswandi – an educator and husband to Josephine Komara of the internationally renowned Bin’s House, died suddenly on Thursday morning, January 10, 2013, age 59, presumably of cardiac arrest.

A man of limitless intellectual curiosity that fed his wide and comprehensive grasp of Indonesian culture, Ronny left a lasting impression on all he knew and the country he loved.

His funeral is scheduled for Thursday, January 17, 2013 at the Kerta Semadi Crematory at Taman Mumbul. The funeral entourage will leave from his Bali residence at Jalan Umaaas II number 86 at 10:00 a.m., where his body lies in state.

A close personal friend of both Ronny and O’Bin (Jospehine), Peter Meyer, wrote conveying his sentiments on the death of this remarkable man who was his friend.

The fact is that he has always, and that very successfully, avoided publicity and that we don't even have a formal CV to share with you.

But, let me put in writing what is coming to my mind right now - without much research and straight from the heart.

Roni was born November 10, 1953, and was the youngest amongst 8 siblings. Given the difficult times that prevailed during his upbringing, Roni, early on in his life, was already exposed to the need to be self-reliant; ready to work hard and to assume responsibilities that, for many individuals of his age, would have been far more than they would have been able to handle.

When he set his mind to it, Roni could achieve goals nobody would have given him credit for. For that matter, having discovered an interest in Indonesia's historical and cultural past, Roni decided to get his formal education at Universitas Indonesia, where he did not only graduated from the archeological and anthropological faculties, but was invited to join the country's foremost academic institution as a lecturer in these, his specialty fields.

What set Roni aside from the many intellectuals he encountered, was his ability to apply the theoretical knowledge and experience he had gained along the way to the world outside academia. He was able to translate history and culture into valuable contributions to about all areas his many interests touched. In this way he made a quiet mark on hundreds of projects, always careful to remain outside the spotlight and to direct the resulting applause to the people close to him.

Foremost amongst these was the love of his life, Ibu Josephine Komara, better known as O'Bin, who, in cooperation with Roni, created the world famous Bin House a true center of "Indonesian Creations" and a serious reflection of Josphine's and Roni's devotion and commitment to the cultural values as well as a tight circle of family and friends, they shared for decades.

There is no easy way to attach a “catch all” predicate to describe Roni Siswandi. He just was too multi-faceted in his many interests, talents and in the commitments he mede to the family he loved, to the people who worked for him and admired him as “Bapak Roni,” and the many friends who benefitted from his devotion, honesty and guidance.

He will just have to be remembered as Roni – “one of a kind” and never to be forgotten.

Everlasting Moments in Paradise

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali Named to CNN’s List of the Ten-Best Wedding Venues in the World

CNN Travel has compiled a list of what they consider the world's 10-best wedding venues, selected from romantic locations around the world.

Doing Bali proud, the top spot in the CNN survey went to AYANA Resort and Spa Bali – located on Jimbaran Beach.

The article declared AYANA as one of the “classiest resorts” and a “most stunning wedding location” that offers “pre- and post-nuptial pampering for couples wondering where to get married, as well as a breathtaking villa location complete with wedding gazebo for the ceremony.”

The article continued: “There’s a choice of traditional Balinese or contemporary wedding decor, and the package also includes tropical flowers, a rose petal cascade, four Balinese bridesmaids, 60 canapés and 50 tropical drinks. A capella music throughout the ceremony is also provided.”

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will hold its World Culture for Development Forum in Bali November 24-29, 2013.

According to the Deputy-Minister for Education and Culture, Professor Ir. Wiendu Nuryanti, Bali’s participation as the host for the Forum will place the island on a par with Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is regularly held.

Wiendu said 37 countries will attend the WCF in Bali.

Quoted in Beritbali.com, Wiendu said: “The position of the World Culture Forum is supported by UNESCO who support Bali becoming the headquarters for Forum. At the UNESCO members-meeting recently held in Paris, all the members were called upon to make the World Culture Forum in Bali a success.”

Wiendu added that the WCF is an innovation – the first worldwide forum dealing specifically with issues related to culture.

To ensure the success of the WCF in Bali, 10 countries are being invited to “partner” with Indonesia in the event. Those ten countries are Japan, India, China, Turkey, South Africa, France, the United Kingdom, U.S.A., Russia and Brazil.

These ten countries are expected to prepare speakers and actively participated in the Forum in November.

The desire of Indonesia and UNESCO is that the World Culture Forum becomes a regular event headquartered in Bali.

Current plans for the Bali Forum are for a range of internationally famous speakers to travel to Bali, including former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, for U.S. Vice-president Al Gore and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Wiendu explained: “The World Culture Forum in Development does not stand alone, but is a dialogue about development and the economy, and how culture must become the main pillar of development. Thus, the discussion of culture in development will be very interesting, creating a synergy and proximity between culture and economic development as the main topic of the coming World Culture Forum."

Bali’s governor Made Mangku Pastika welcomed the news of Bali’s appointment as the headquarters for the WCF, adding he hoped the event should be self-sustaining without expenditures from the State Budget.

“Let Bali be like Davos in Switzerland who play host to the World Economic Forum. The government shouldn’t expend funds but, instead, earn revenues from such an event,” said Pastika, speaking at the same seminar with Dr. Wiendu Nuryanti.

From Monday, January 14 until Saturday, January 19, 2013, Il Ristorante at the Bulgari Resort Bali is presenting an opportunity to experience a “four-hands dinner” prepared by the celebrated duo of Bulgari chef Maurizio Bombini and visiting chef Riccardo De Pra.

Riccardo De Pra

A member of one of Italy’s most respected culinary families, Riccardo grew up in the family ristorante - Dolada - an establishment with one of the longest Michelin histories in Italy. After a number of years basking in the established success of Dolada, Riccardo continued his culinary training in Japan where he gained unique insights int the very private world of Japanese cuisine. The resulting creations are contemporary deconstructions of Italian classics infused with the minimalism of Japanese cuisine.

Riccardo De Prà is the fifth generation of the De Prà family of restaurateurs, passionate about agriculture and producing ingredients of the highest quality in the mountain region of the Italian Dolomites, the place of his birth.

When only 15-years-old, Riccardo began his culinary sojourn by working at some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants. Five years later, he moved to London to expand his culinary knowledge, working with Stefano Cavallini at the Halkin Hotel, and then with the Roux brothers. Armed with the curiosity of youth, he travelled extensively in Europe exploring the rich array of culinary traditions found on the Continent.

Inspired, he returned to his family’s restaurant to work alongside his father Enzo. However, Riccardo’s thirst for more experience was not yet satisfied, and in 2000, he headed to Japan, training in Tokyo at Basara Restaurant, and then in Tucshima at Aoyagi Restaurant.

In February 2009, Riccardo returned to London to lead the kitchen team at Dolada in Mayfair.

Four-Handed Excellence

The “four-hands experience” at the Bulgari Resort Bali features a degustation menu served daily starting from January 14, 2013 at Il Ristorante, as well as an intimate lunch on Wednesday, January 16 2013, and an exclusive gala dinner on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Last Chance to Purchase Tickets for 2nd Wine Auction – January 20, 2013 at St. Regis Bali Resort

Arguably one of Bali’s best social events of the Year, the Bali Wine Auction will commence in the pre-function are of the Astor Ballroom at the St. Regis Resort Bali with a one-hour blind wine tasting from 3:00 – 4:00 pm on Sunday, January 17, 2013.

uo;mystery wines” will be served together with a delicious “tapas” menu.

At 4:00 pm the doors to the auction room open. Before the auction begins, the renowned sommelier of the St. Regis' Kayuputi Restaurant, Harald Wiesmann, revealing the identity of the wines sampled over the previous hour’s tasting.

The auction will feature 27 separate lots of wine, wine experiences and wine accessories donated by leading wine distributors, hotels and suppliers.

The lots have a retail value of more than US$11,000 and includes premium wines, vintage bottles autographed by the winemakers, hand-blown crystal wine glasses, wine dinners at leading Bali restaurants and hotels, and cooking classes where wine plays a central role.

Proceeds from the Bali Wine Auction are donated to a wine education fund for workers in Bali’s hospitality sector administered by the Bali Hotels Association.

Among the hotel wine lots on offer is a wine dinner with wine pairings cooked by an executive chef from Aman Resorts for the winner and guests at their private residence.

Ticket number are limited by the size of the auction venue and cost Rp. 300,000 each (US$30), which cover the tasting, tapas, wine catalogue, participation at the auction and a chance to wine the door prize of a wine cooler donated by Lotus Food Service.

The Bali Wine Auction is sponsored by Lotus Food Service with the generous support of St. Regis Bali, Artisan Estates and Indo Wines.

Order tickets while-they-last by calling Jeffrey at Bali Discovery Events at telephone +62-(0)361-286283 or [emailing]

Remember to Register for the 1st Indonesia Hotel Investment Conference in Bali – February 1, 2013

The 1st Indonesian Hotel Investment Conference will be held on Friday, February 1, 2013 at the Sheraton Kuta Bali Resort.

Sponsored by the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) and the Bali Hotels Association (BHA), this one-day conference will be opened by the Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, H.E. Mari Elka Pangestu and feature experts discussing trends in the Indonesian economy, approaches to funding hotel projects, sustainability and labor issues on the eve of the ASEAN Free Trade era.

Cost of participation is US$500 which includes the conference, coffee breaks, luncheons and attendance at a the sundowner networking cocktail.

Discounts available for PHRI, BHA and American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia members.